Inertia pump



Aug 19312- c. H. BRASELTON ET AL 1 876 77 INERTIA PUMP Original Filed Jan. 50. 1922 disclosure.

Patented Aug, 9, 1932 untrue stares earsnr orrraca CHESTER H. BRASELTON, or new YORK, Ann FRED B. MACLAREN, on MALBA, NEW YORK INERTIA PUMP Application filed January 30, 1922, Serial No. 532,718. Renewed September 14, 1928.

The present invention relates to vibration operated pumps for pumping fluids from a source of supply to a desired destination by utilizing th relative vibration of the pump plunger and pump cylinder to effect the pumping action. A pumping apparatus of this type is disclosed in our copending application bearing Serial No. 531,131", filed January 23, 1922, and this invention is a modified form of the invention disclosed in this cop-ending application. p

The principal object of the invention is to provide a means for dampening the relative vibrations between the movable members of the pumping mechanism by trapping the pump with-liquid in a chamber and providing a restricted outlet therefor which forms substantially a liquid seal for the fluid being pumped to control or modify the pumping action.

The invention in the embodiment disclosed makes use of a. loose piston fitting in a cylins der and means whereby relative'movement between the piston and cylinder is produced by t 1e vibration of the latter the piston and cylinder cooperating through valve mech anism to pump a iiuid or liquid from one rec ptacle to another. I

p i T he invention in the embodiment disclosed also relates to means to prevent flow after a certain amount of liquid has been pumped into an auxiliary tank, and to this end means for dampening the relative oscillation between the piston and cylinder dependent upon the hei ht of liquid pumped in the receiving tank are utilized in the present The present invention also includes means to regulate, dampen or control extreme vibrations of the pumping mechanism employed.

' another object o1"- the invention is to provide means working in cooperation with the supply pipe to the pump whereby. a more continuous flow of liquidto the pump is pro vided a small reservoir of the liquid being provi ed ad acent the supply pipeand in smoother and more continuous flow of liquid through the supply pipe to the pump.-

Other objects of the invention are to-produce a cheaper and more efficient pumping mechanism and one which-ismoreimproved in operation as will more fully hereinafter appear from a detailed description of! the construction and relationship of the, various parts, as shown in the accompanyingdrawk V ings-in which,

Figure I shows in a conventional manner an automobile with our invention applied thereto for the purpose. of pumping liquid fuel from a lower supply tank. to a higher level auxiliary tank. V

Figure 11-1 is a vertical sectional,- View through the pumping mechanism shown in Figurel. I T V Figure 111 is an enlarged viewofthe cen tral part of Figure II, showing the valves of the pumping mechanism. c

In Figure I, 1y representsthe automobile shown in a conventional Vmanner supplied with a rear fuel supply tank- 2, and a carburetor 3 for the engine l. An auxiliary pumping tank 5 is shownlocated on the dash 6 of the automobile and this pumping tank is connectedthrough supply pipe 7 withthe rear tank and throiwh outlet pipe 8 to supply fuel to the carburetor.

The object of our inventionias-hereinapplied is to cheaply and efiiciently keep the pump tank5 supplied at a'proper level with liquid fuel pumpedfrom the rear tank 2 so thatthefuel may flow by gravity from the auxiliary tank 5to the carburetor as needed. To this end the pumping tank 5 is mounted rigidly upon the dash or it maybe mounted on any other vibrating-part of the automobile Or engine so that as thecar ismoved over the roads or the engine is'vibrating' due to-its operation, or any mechanical means vibrates the pump tank 5 the same will cause the-mechanism, due to a floating piston and cooperatingcylinderin the pump tank, to pump liquid :tuel into the receiving chamber of the pump lfltllillk from'the rear tank until it is sufficiently The. present invention is an improvement upon the inventions disclosed and claimed or modify the action of the pumping mecha- I inertia-operated pumping mechanism oper;

ated automatically by the vibrations normally inherent in the automobile when t 1s m operation. The liquid fuel is fed by gravity from the auxiliary tank to the carbureter or other charge forming device of the engine and it is important to control the level to which the liquid fuel may rise in the auxiliary tank for the following reasons, among others. It is highly desirable to prevent the auxiliary tank from overflowing, in case liquid is pumped intoit faster than it is fed to the engine, becausethe overflowing of the auxiliary tank would waste the fuel and would spill fuel on the engine with the consequent danger of fire. It is also desirable to control the level to which liquid may rise in the auxiliary tank because such level determines the head or pressureatwhich the liquid fuel is fed from the auxiliary tank to the carburetor and,

if this pressure exceeds "a predetermined amount, it is likely to overcome the resistance of the carbureter valve and flood the carbureter. In our application, Serial No. 533,493, we make no attempt tomodify or regulate the action of'the pumping mechanism and provide anoverfiow pipe connecting the auxiliary tank and the supply tank and, when the liquid in the auxiliary tank reaches a cer tain level, the excess flows back to the supply tank through the overflow line. In our plication, Serial No. 531,137, we modify the action of the pumpingmechanism when the liquid in the tank reaches a certain level.

I In said application, we accomplish this by providing the inertia-operatedpiston with an enlarged head which weights the piston and also constitutes a sort of plunger working .in the auxiliary tank, so that, when the liquid in the tank reaches such a level that it comes in contact with this enlarged head, the liquid dampens the oscillations of the piston and thus controls or modifies the action ofthe pumping mechanism. It is to be noted that, in such construction, the liquid is in the path of the discharge stroke of the piston and creates a resistance to the discharge stroke. According to our present invention, we control nism, when the liquid reaches a'certain level in the auxiliaryjtank, by creatinga resistance to the intake stroke of the piston. We ac- .eomplish this by creating a liquid buffer which opposes the intake stroke of the piston. The construction which we have" disclosed for Iaccomplishingthis comprises a chamber in .charge stroke of the piston so as to prevent ing the weight separate from the piston and which a part moving with the piston Works, and into which liquid is permitted to flow from the tank, when the liquid in the tank reaches a certain level, creating a liquid buffer in the chamber opposing movement of the piston.

Another feature of our present invention consists in providing means creating a liquid buffer opposing the lower portion of the dis- 7 15 the piston striking against the bottom of the pump chamber. We accomplish this by providing means cutting off the discharge port of the pump chamber before the piston reaches the end of its discharge stroke so as to trap a quantity of liquid in the pump chamber forming a liquid buffer opposing movement of the piston at the end of its dis charge stroke.

Another feature of our invention consists 35 in means for overcoming the effect of the inertia of the column of liquid between the sup ply tank and the pump so as to render the pump more sensitive and the flow through it more nearly continuous. We accomplish this ,1 by providing an intake chamber adjacent the inlet valve of the pump chamber and connected with the pump chamber through said valve, said intake chamber being connected by a suitable conduit with an external source of supply and serving to maintain a quantity of liquid adjacent the inlet valve during the discharge stroke of the piston. Another feature of our present invention consists in mak- "1.00 connecting it to the piston so that the two move as one; In this case, the weight is connected to the piston so as to have a slight pivotal movement with respect to it, due to the pin connecting the annular or cup-shaped weight and the piston and extending through slots in the'wall of the cylinder in which the piston works. This is of advantage from a manufacturing standpoint since the piston and the stem, which is carried by the weight and slidably mounted in the cover or top of the tank, do not have to be in exact axial alignment when this construction is employed. r

i The details 'of the construction of the pumping tank are shown in Figure II in which 9 represents a tank which may be of pressed metal the bottom 10 of which is integral with the side. A separate top 11 is provided this being also preferably made of pressed metal and this is fastened on the outwardly bent flanges 12 of the sides of the tank by screws 13 to hold the top in place. The cap 11 has a. small opening 17 serving as a g vent to keep the inside of the tank at atmos- "i" pheric pressure at all times.

The bottom of the tank has a screw threaded opening 18 at one side thereof into which a joint 19 isadapted to be screwed. One end a of this joint is adapted for connection with the feedpipe to the carburetor of theengine ortothefpoint of. elivery of theliquid; and

the other end-is designedto project up-into. the

inside of; the pump, tank. a slight. distance above the bottom ofzthe-tankito providea weir so that. liquidfuelinside the'pump tank-may flow-to the carburetor or; point of delivery when needed and yet the sedimentsettling at the extreme, bottomiof thetankwillflnot flow to the: Carburetor, At. another place in the bottom of the tankza screw plug Qty-is provided; adapted; tobe. removed for; the drain.- ing of the tank. or the removal of settled sediment, therefrom.

Thepumpingmechanismof thepump tank consists primarily ofga cylinder rigidly secured to and movable-with the tank proper and a, pistonv Working therein cooperating with, the cylinder to perform the pumping operation; Thecylinder. we have shown in the drawing ashaving been made of cast ma.- teri aland'itis, indicated at;21., This cylinder is provided. with flange 22. adapted, to rest uponthe. upper edge of upwardly bent flange 2.3 of the bottom of the tank; The lower end ofthiscylinder projects at. 2.4 below the outside of the: bottom of the tank and is there threaded to receive the threaded nut and'nipple 25 the tightening of which serves to hold the flanges 22 and 23-together to maintain the cylinder firmly in. place in the bottom of the tank inside the flange 23. The nut 25 is screw threaded at 26 for suitableconnectionwith the feed pipe from the rear supply tank; Slightly above the flange 22 of the cylinder 21 there isiprovideda transverse partition27 which may be cast integrally with-the cylinder, which partition forms a chamber 29.- in the space beneath; the same and. abovelthe lower end ofthecylinder. The-partition is provided with a plurality ofopeningsQS connecting the chamber 29 therebeneath with the chamber above fora purpose tobe hereinafter described. Upon the uppersurface of this sectionQl' isadapted to fit aflat and light valve 29. of such diameter asito'cover the upper ends ofthe openings28 when the valve isseated; 'Thisvalve lSCQHtQIGd-iby p.ro ec.- tion 30 onitsunder side adapted to fit:in. a corresponding opening in the member 27. J ust-above the valve is-a screw threadedlplug 31 provided with openings 32 nearits periphcry and outside theperiphery of the valve 29.. By this construction liquid is allowed to pass upwardly through holes 23 around the edge ofvalve- 29'and up through holes 32 to=the pump chamber 33 but is prevented-from-fiowing in the-opposite directionaas bydomg. so thevalve would automatically lower: to; close the upperends-of the openings28; From the screwplug 3.1;upwardlythe cylinderis? preferably of the same diameter throughout but is closed howeveratpits-upper end byaeap 3tpressedor-spun into place to cov ritheiupperiend .of the c linderzafter-the piston hereinafter: described is placed in the cylinder through the upper. end. The cy1:- inder above the valve,- 29 is'provided with longitudinal slots 35 the purpose of which willghereinafter appear-.. The cylinder is'fur- "h pin-is secured in the weight 39, thus-providing a; pivotal connection between the weight 39 and the'piston38. r

' A springlO of coiled formation hasits lower'end supported and guided by the flange 23 and surrounds the cylinder 21. Theupper endof the spring 40 bears againstthe lower end of the weight 39 the spring being held in place at its upper end. by a ring etlf'ormed by recessingthe lower end of the weight 39. This spring serves to support the weight 39 which is longitudinally fixed with respectto the piston-and supports the piston at a point of balance, fro1nwhich point however, the piston and weight maymove relatively upwardly or downwardly with respect to the cylinder." The piston 38 is adapted-to litthe interior of the cylinder andit isprovided with a coun-terbored portionfilQat-its lower end in-to which'screws nut 43 provided with a ring of vertical openings 44:. A lightflat valve 45 is guided by a small projection on its under side which fits inthe recess in the upper portion ofthe nut so as to cover the upperends of'theopenings when the valve is lowered on its seat; around the valve l5 project holes 46, arranged in the forln of a circle of greater diameter than the peripheryzofthe valve 45 and these holes 4'6 open into transverse holes 47. which cooperate with the longitudinalslots 35 to allow-liquid to flow from'the pump chamber 33jpast' the valve 45 and through the openings Just. described and slots 35 into the ex? From the recess.

terior of the cylinder to fill the space 48 of the pump tank. This valve however willpre vent flow in the opposite direction through it;

The weight 39 as statedhas a loose, fit aroundthe cylinder at all places except at the cap Maud this .iveight is provided with relatively large openings 49 atits top 0011- necting the top of the weight with the inside to allow any liquid that would get in the inside to be readily forced out; ofthe space 50 as-the piston and weight descend Any liquid inside thelweighti39'below thepart, 34::Wlll

freely flow downwardly between the lower portion of the weight and the cylinder into the liquid receiving portion of thetank.

The cap 34 for the cylinder is provided with an opening 51 in its top of quite small area and we may also provide openings 52 leading at an angle longitudinally through the piston from its upper end into communi cation with the slots in the cylinder in which the pin 37 slides. Either or both of these openings may be used but they are to be of such small cross section that should the liquid rise in the tank 48 to a level with the space 53 in the upper end of the cylinder liquid will flow through these holes into the space 53 and-then if the piston is moved up relative to the cylinder the incompressible liquid in the space 53 would form a liquid buffer tending to dampen the movement of the piston and thereby materially reduce if not stop the pumping operation. The pumping however would normally be resumed when the liquid in the'space 48 falls and allows the liquid in the space 53 to drain therefrom through openings 52 or to be forced gradually upwardly through opening 51 in the cap for the cylinder.

The cap 11 has a boss 14 through which passes an opening 15 serving as a guide and opening for an operating pin 16 connected with a member movable withthe piston 38.

The operating handle 16 may be screw threaded or in any other way connected with the weight 39 so that if the part 16 is moved upwardly and downwardly manually or by the lifting up of the lever 54 on the dash whichcauses the end 55 of the same to press down on the rod 16 the pump will be manually operated.

In order to make smoother the flowing of liquid to the pump chamber from the rear tank and to minimize as far as possible any efiect of inertia of the column of liquid and the work required for the starting and stopping of the intermittent motion of this column of liquid we provide a tube 56 the up- 7 per end of which is fastened in place in a depression 57 on the under side of the partition 27. This tube 56 forms a continuation of the opening leading from the rear supply tank to the pump chamber 33. It is not however entirely continuous with the opening 58 in the nut 25 as a slight sp'ace59 is provided for connecting the opening 59 and 56 with a space 60 around the tube 56 and inside the lower end of the cylinder. Normally if the liquid were running through the pipe 1 from the rear pipe to the pump continuously and before the same entered the ump reducing the pressure in space 60. when the column of liquid from the rear tank was in motion and reached the pump chamber some of it due to the slight vacuum in the space 60 would flow into the space at the lower part while the main column of liquid would continue to flow into the pump tank space 33. When the upward fiow into the piston of the pump has completed its movement in a downward direction and starts back up again the cushion of air 60 above the liquid in the bottom of this space would then be under slightly more than atmospheric pressure and would tend to force the liquid through tube 56 and the valve into the pump cylinder more quickly than the liquid would flow if the columnof gas all the way to the rear tank had again to be set in motion. This auxiliary space 60 therefore serves as a means of promoting more continuous flow of liquid from the rear tank through its pipes to the pump than would result with out some provision for thus defeating the effects ofthe inertia of the column. By utilizing a means similar to this with a light valve we are able to have our pump function much more efficiently for the more sensitive or delicate vibrations.

treme vibrations ofthe piston we arrange the transverse openings 47 in the piston at such a location that they will come below the extreme bottom end of the slots 35 before the bottom end of the piston will otherwise have reached the end of its down stroke. By doing'this any undue downward movement'of the piston is very effectively damped for the reason that liquid from the pump chamber 33 will no longer readily flow past the valve and through the opening 47 after this opening passes below the lower edge of slot 35. and is therefore closed by the wall of the cylinder. A. slight leakage of the parts will prevent too sudden a stopping of the piston when it reaches a position to close the outlet 47 and by adjusting the fit of these parts-the sud'denness of the dampening may be controlled. By. arranging the relative location. of. these slots and openings the maximum downward vibration of the piston may be definitely determined. As stated above the dampening of the piston in the opposite direction is controlled by the cover 34 for the cylinder and is effective when the liquid in the tank is Sllfll-rciently high as to be in the space 53 above the piston. When this is the case the up ward movement of the piston is damped and onsequently To act as additional damper against eX- I if it is desired to vibrate the pump v cylinder with a suddenness determined by the size of the apertures 51 and 52 through which the liquid must flow out if the piston is to displace the same. 7

It will appear from the above that any oscillation of the tank 9 in a vertical direction whether caused by the vibration of the car when running or the engine or whether positively vibrated by some other means will due to the inertia of the piston 38 and weight 39 result in relative movement between the piston 38 and weight 39 and the tank 9. and relatively fixed cylinder 21. This results in successive increasing and decreasing of the space 33 with the result that liq- I uid is pumped from therear tank into the space 33 and then forced out of the same through the openings in the piston and slots 35 into the space 48 of the tank. Any extreme vibrations of the piston relative to the cylinder are controlled by the downward dampening movement of the piston as controlled by the location of slots 35 and openings 47 and any extreme upward dampening is controlled by the dampening chamber 53 above the upper end of the piston. The height of the liquid in the tank space 48 is kept fairly constant as when the liquid rises to a sufiicient height it will fill the space 53 above the piston and diminish further vibration of the same until the level of the liquid again lowers and this space is drained of the liquid. The pumping will then again be resumed as the vibration of the tank continues. i

The provision of the space 60 around the entrance pipe 56 in the cylinder serves to tend to keep a more continuous flow of the liquid through the supply pipe from the ;rear tank and thus make the operation of the mechanlsm more sensitlve and effective Ztion rather than merely increase the movement of the still moving column.

While the device is shown as being 51 5- erated by the vibration of the automobile when in use or when the engine is running,

and easing positively the same may be readily accomplished by mounting the pump slidably on-its support and through cam and :rod or lever connections positively operating the same to vibrateit from a cam on some moving part of the engine or vehicle.

We are aware that the pumping apparatus and the fuel feed system disclosed in this. specification and the accompanying drawing may be altered, changed or varied considerably without departing from the spirit of our invention and, therefore, we claim our invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. A device of the class described com prising a receiving tank; a pump operated by inertia and discharging into said tank; and means, automatically initiated by the level of the liquid in said tank, i or opposing a variable resistance ito the intakestroke of the pump.

2. In a fuel supply system. for automotive vehicles, the combination of a receiving tank mounted on the vehicle; a pump discharging into said tank and operated automatically by the vibrations normally inherent in the.

take stroke of the piston, and a'separate' liquid bufier opposing the outlet stroke thereof.

3. A device ofthe class described comprising a receiving tank; a pump discharging into said tank and including a pump chamber and a resiliently supported piston reciprocating in said chamber;and means, controlled by the level of the liquid in said tank, for creating a liquid buiier opposing theintake stroke of said piston and a separate liquid buffer opposing the outlet stroke thereof.

4. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a pump discharging into said tank and including a pump chamber adapted to be connected to an external source of supply and a resiliently supported piston reciprocating in said chamber; said piston having a discharge port therein; a valve controlling said discharge-port; abufifer chamber" in which said piston also reciprocates; means, controlled by the level of the liquid insaid tank, for admitting liquid to said. buffer chamber to create a liquid bufler opposing movement of the piston; and additional means also controlled by the level of the liquid in said tank for further opposing movement of the piston.

5. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a cylinder having an inlet atone end and a restricted outlet at the other end; a piston reciprocating in said cylinder and dividing it into a pump chamber and a buffer chamber; means for discharging liquid from said pump chamber into said tank; means, controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank, for admitting liquid to said buffer chamber to create a liquid bufier opposing movement of the piston; and

additional means also controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank for further opposing movement of the piston.

6. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a cylinder rigidly mounted within the tank and having an inlet at one end, adapted to be connected to-an external source of supply, and a restrict-ed outlet at the other end; a piston reciprocating in the cylinder and dividing it into a pump chamber and a buffer chamber; a weight surrounding the cylinder and connected to move with the piston; means for discharging liquid from the pump chamber into the tank; a port connecting the buffer chamber with the interior of the tank, whereby when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tank, 1t

enters the buiierchamber creating a liquid bufl'er therein opposing movement of the piston; and means associated with said weight and also controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank to additionally oppose movement of the piston. 1

7 A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a cylinder rigidly mounted within the tank and having an inlet at one end, ada ted to be connected to an external source 0 supply, and a restricted outlet at the other end; a piston reciprocating in the cylinder and dividing it into a pump chamber and a butter chamber; a weight surrounding the cylinder and connected to the piston to move therewith and forming an additional bufl'er chamber with the upper end of the cylinder; a coil spring surrounding the cylinder and supporting the weight; means for discharging liquid from the pump chamber into the tank; a port connecting the butler chamber and the interior of the tank, whereby, when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tank, it enters the buffer chamber creating a liquid bufier therein opposing movement of the piston; and a port connecting said first bufier chamber with said additional bufler chamber whereby liquid may also enter said additional buffer chamber and create a liquid buffer additionally opposing movement of said piston.

' 8. A device of the class described coinprising a receiving tank; a cylinder rigidly mounted within the tank and having an inlet at one end, adapted to be connected to an exteral source of supply, and a restricted outlet at theother end; said cylinder having a pair of diametrically opposite slots in the wall thereof; a piston reciprocating in the cylinder and dividing it into a pump chamber and buffer chamber; a resiliently supported weight surrounding the cylinder; a pin carried by said weight and extending through said slots and through the piston; means for discharging liquid from the pump chamber into the tank; a port connecting the buffer chamber with the interior of the tank, whereby, when the liquid reaches'a predetermined level in the tank, it enters the bufi'er chamber creating a liquid butler opposing movement 1- of the piston; and means associated with said weight for creating an additional liquid bufier opposing movement of said piston.

9. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a cylinder mounted within the tank and having an inlet at one end, adapted to .be connected to an external source of supply, and a restricted outlet at the other end; a piston reciprocating in said cylinder and dividing it into a pump chamher and a bufier chamber; a resiliently supported, cup-shaped weight surrounding the upper end of the cylinder and connected to piston reciprocating in said chamber; a resiliently supported weight pivotally connected to said piston; and means for discharginglliquid from said pump chamber into the tan V 11. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a pump chamber therein having'an inlet adapted to be connected to an external source of supply; a piston reciprocating 1n sald chamber; a re-' siliently supported weight pivotally connected to said piston; a stem carried by said weight and slidably mounted in the top of the tank; and means for discharging liquid from said pump chamber into said tank.

12. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a pump chamber therein having an inlet adapted to be connected to an external source of supply; a piston reciprocating in said chamber; aresiliently supported weight pivotally connected to said piston; means for discharging liquid from the pump chamber into said tank; a buffer chamber in which a part moving with the piston works; and means, controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank, for admitting liquid to said buffer chamber to create a liquid buffer therein opposing movement of the piston. a a

13. A deviceof the class described comprising a receiving tank; a cylinder mounted within the tank and having an inlet at its lower end, adapted to be connected to an ex-' ternal source of supply, and a restricted outlet at the upper end; a piston reciprocatingin the cylinder and dividing it into a lower pump chamber and an upper buffer chamber; a resiliently supported weight surrounding the upper portion of the cylinder but spaced therefrom to permit liquid to flow to the bufi level in the tank, it enters the bufler chamber creating a liquid buifer opposing movement of the piston.

14. A device of the class described comprising a receiving tank; a pump chamber discharging into said tank; an inertia-operated piston reciprocating in said chamber; and means creating a liquid buffer opposing the discharge stroke of the piston, said means being operative independently of the level of the liquid in the tank and a reserve chamber adjacent said pump chamber for supplying liquid to the pump chamber.

15. In a liquid feed system, the combination of a casing, a pump positioned Within the casing for supplying liquid thereto, and means for damping movement of said pump when the supply of liquid exceeds a given level, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston movable Within the cylinder, and said damping means comprising a chamber Within, said cylinder at the outer end of said piston and having a permanently unobstructed aperture in its Wall and a second chamber outside of said cylinder and communicating with said first chamber, and means to vary the volume of said second chamber with the movement of said piston.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signatures.

CHESTER H. BRASELTON. FRED B. MAGLAREN. 

